Ladle bail bearing and protector



Aug. l, 1944. A. JADACH V LADLE BAIL BEARING AND PROTECTOR 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 26,- 1943 Patented Aug. 1, 1944 LADLE BAILBEARING AND PROTECTOR Andrew Jadach, Cicero,-Ill., assignor'toCrane'Co., Chicago, Ill., a-corporation of Illinois Application March.26, 194s, serial No. 480,702

(c1. lsos-'14) 12 Claims.

Broadly, this invention vrelates to a foundry device and moreparticularly .applies to a novel ladle bail bearing and protector.'

' It Ahas long been a problem in the foundry in connection with thepouring and handling of'.

metal in the usual bail-suspended ladle to safeguard the supportingbearing between the ladle and the bail against the entry of foreignmatter, such as the usual foundry dust and sand, and also against thespattering or spilling of molten metal from the ladle onto such shankbearing to interfere with the satisfactory trouble-free performanceofthe latter assembly. It has been recognized that in this mannersubstantial interference with the free and convenient `pouring .ofmolten metal from the ladle occurred, and further affected the bearingitself detrimentally so that frequent, expensive shut-downs and metallosses have resulted, with the obvious danger, too, of causing personalinjury Ytothe ladle operator when filling molds. Also the amount oflphysical effort required in tilting the ladle when pouring metaltherefrom 'into a mold has been unduly heavy due to the increasedfrictional resistance in the ladle bail bearing. `Accordingly theresultant fatigue of the operator has increased during the course of adays workand foundry output has been reduced substantially.

In striking contrast tothe objectionable performance as just described,I have found that by the use of the novel device hereinafter describedthe protection furnished will increase the life of the Wearing surfacesof the ladle bail bearing many fold, in addition to increasing the easeand the accuracy of the metal pouringv operation from the ladle into themolds.

A more specific object of this invention 'is to provide a convenientmeans for applying lubrication to the bearing surface between the'ladleholder shank andk the ladle bail, thereby not only facilitating ease ofoperation in tilting the ,-ladle from time to time as the metal ispoured into the mold but also by reason of .such lubrication serving asa vmeans for excluding from such bearing surfaces the Vusual deposits offoreign matter `as above referred to. v Another ,object `of my inventionis to provide a device of this character which can be conveniently andquickly assembled to regular equipment and fromA the standpoint ofreplacement and repair doing so withoutnecessitating objectionable andfrequently expensive delays.

Another general and importantobjectis to pro- Vide ,a device Whiohby itsconstruction lends it- A self to aordingogreater .securing and safety tothe foundry .operator orladle man.

. A further important Objectis -to ,provide adevice in which by thesuitableselection of mateo rials for :meeting normal .WearJ greatereconomies in performance `andin uninterrupted `service are furnished.

Other important .objects andadvantages of the article `willtbecome,moreeadily'apparent upon proceeding `with the owing-'specification read iniight ofthe drawings., in which Fig. 1 is an exterior general assembly-view of a ladle .and bailembodying my invention.

Fig. -2 .is ,a side exterior view of `the assembly referred vto in Eig.1.

Fig. 3 is :a combined sectional `view in spacedapart relation of v.therespective upper and lower members embodying .my invention.

' Fig. 4 is -a ysectional view .taken on the line 4-14 of:F.'ig.-.3.

Fig. 5 .is ,a .perspective exteriorview of -the novel shank collar =orupper member :embodying my invention. y

Fig. .6 lis a .perspective exteriorview of the shank bearing or .lowermember embodying .my invention.

Fig. V'l is a perspective exterior view of a spring preferably employed"for holding the rassembly in position.

Similarreference numerals-refer tosimilar parts throughout jthe severalNiews. v

Referri11g-,-noiivv` to fFig. *1, the conventional ladle I;for carryingmolten metal ,to the molds is shown vmounted Lin the usual bandedcircular holder 2 ,55 andthe shank bearing :I 0

encircling the4 `tapered outer surface of the ladle. The said fholdcr isprovided-with the transversely extending, oppositely disposed lShanks`:or rod extensions 3, each vof which latter `members projects through:or may be an integral part ',of Ythe .-shoulder ed bearing -members 4.The latter members are preferablyjournally supported within therespective assembled split members hereinafter described. Thelatterconsist of the upper orshank collar member 5 and the lower orshank bearing member vl 0 assembledpreferably insuperposedgrelation inthe order named within the curved iooled portions "6 of the :inverted Ubail :mem-

er s Y In order rto assist in obtaining the v'proper positioningof theshankrcollar-5 and the shank `bear. ing IU Aupon the hook 6, it :ispreferable :to Sprovide each of v.the latter members with .the.transversely extending `anges 18 and p9, respectively. Thus :it will:be .apparent :that theshank collar 'i by useof th`eir.res1; ec-` Theupper member or shank collar 5 is not necessarily required to closelyencircle or to bear snugly upon the outer peripheral surface vportion ofthe member 4 as is true offthelower, member,

but instead the upper member 5 ispreferably asf H sembled so that therespective surfaces I2 and I3 will contact or bear in abutting relationupon the surfaces I4 and I5 respectively of theshank bearing I0. It isapparent that while 'I have shown-the' oppositely disposedrelievedrelation, :the latter arrangement' isV merely usedf as: a preferred formwhich permitsof a single for'm of casting being. employed for 'eitherthe' right orthe left'side of the ladle bail and which also tendstoalign theshank collar 5 with the shank bearingIO. Obviously,` surfacesvin the-same plane and'in abutting-contact relation may beused'withoutdeparting from the spirit of this invention. Thus referring now to Fig.5 and Fig. 6, the upper member 5 may be simply lowered in superposedrelation lupon the lower bearing I subsequent ,to actual assembly of theYlatter member upon the bail hooks 6 to receive the bearingfmembers 4and the shanks or rod extensions 3 of the ladle holder. Mention shouldbe made at: this point that, as shown in! the upperhalvesrof Figs. 3v

and 4,-the upper member or'shank collar 5 is provided with a chamber I6and thatthe lower memberv or shank bearing Ill is provided with theannularly extending groove I1, the latter groove substantially locatedso as to divide the bearing surface II with an enlargedv connectinggroove 25 between the groove I1 and the-upper` chamber I6. The primarypurpose of the latter arrangement is to permit-applying a'suitablelubricant, such as afrela'tively heavy bodied grease to theY chamber I6,the connecting groove 25, the bearing surface II and the lower groove'I1 thereby facilitating the uniform-distribution of the-lubricant aroundthe rod extensionsA 3 of thel bail holder v2 withinthe-itransverseilimits of the upper and lower kmembers 5 and I0. Itwill-be apparent thatfunder. thef influence-'of the temperaturesnormally encountered-during the metal pouring operation "the-'lubricantis spread upon theibearing surface II t'othus reduce-substantiallytheusual frictional resistance 'encountered and. concurrently enablingthe grease to act as a meansfor preventing 'the entry offoreignmatterfrom sources exterior of .the described assembly. Y

iwf-Inl the latter connection, it' will further be noted upon referringto the upper'portions of Figs. 3 and 4. relative vto the shank collarconstruction,l that thelatten member is=preferab1y provided with anextended roof or top portion I8 which extends' substantiallyperimetrically over the `respective angedpo'rtions 8 and 9 'and-thegrooves formedtherebyfin both the upper and lower members and Ill whenthe latter are positioned in assembled relation uponthebail hooks .6.The roof portion I8 serves two purposes: vrst, it serves. toblockxforvprevent theobjectionable respectivesurfacesIZ,13. I4 andI5-in..

deposit of the usual molten metal upon the flanges 8 and 9 andparticularly between the hook portions 6 and the members 5 and I0 whichwould obviously interfere seriously with the operation of the journaledmembers 3 and 4; and second, the roof portion I8 is preferably maderounded slightly in its cross-section, as indicated at I9 in Fig. 4, sothat when assembled upon the hook 6, as more clearly shown in Fig. 2,Vthe rounded surface I9 is engaged by a similarly curved portion 2|between thev upstanding arms 22 of the spring `.26, the latter beingpivotally mounted upon the `bail 1 by means of the lugs 23 and the pins24 extending through the spring aperture 20 to hold the assemblysecurely in position upon the hook 6.V Thus it will be clear that by thesimple pivotal movement of the spring 26 outwardly and away from thebail 1, the assembled upper and lower portions may be taken apart forreplacement, repair or inspection and upon re-assembly thereafter heldin locked position upon the bail hooks E by simply moving the spring 26inwardly toward the bail 1. ,This arrangement obviously preventsthejournaled members 3 and 4 from being displaced accidentally duringthe course of the metalpouring operation which might easily be dangerousas well as wasteful.

The shanks or rod extensions 3 at either side or both may of course beprovided with the usual forked type of handle (not shown) for use intilting the ladle inv a desiredv direction when pouring the metal intothe mold from the ladle. Also the spring 26 while shown in a sheet metalform may be of a coiled type or other form if desired. It will also beapparent that while in the foregoing description, specific mention hasbeen made of the bearing member 4 about which the shank collar and shankbearing are mounted, it is obvious that under certain conditions it maybe desirable to dispense with the use of such member .and simplyl mountthe shank bearing I6 and the collar 5 directly around the shank 3, sincethe member 4 merely serves as a strengthening or reinforcing means forthe shank 3 in supporting the relatively heavy weight of the ladle wheniilled `with molten metal.

As :previously pointed out, my invention is capable of othermodifications which will readily occur to those skilled in the art.Therefore the particular form of the various elements described is, notprimarily essential as it is obvious that numerous variations may beused without departing from the spiritfof the invention.

vIt is intended therefore to be limited only to the extent ,defined bythe scope of the appended claims.

I claim: I v

1. In a ladle bail bearing or the like, the combination including -abail, a carrier for a ladle, the said bail having hooked portions forengagement by the carrier;V the said carrier having shank means forsupport by the bail, divided means assembled with the hooked portions ofthe bail comprising a shank collar and a shank bushing and substantiallysurrounding a portion of the shank means, the said shank collar andbushing being assembled in matched relation whereby the shank means ofthe-said carrier is journaled within an aperture'formed bythe assemblyof the said shank collar and shank bushing upon the-said bail hookedportions.

- 2. In a ladle bail bearing and protector of the character described.ithe combination including a bail having lower. depending hookedportions, a

vladle carrier with extended rod portions, means engaging said hookedportions comprising shank collars and shank bushings assembled incomplementary relation within said hooked portions, the said shankcollars and said shank bushings having means for engaging the saidhooked portions, the said shank collars and shank bushings having hollowportions forming complementary apertures therebetween when assembledwhereby the extended rod portions of the said ladle carrier arejournaled within the aperture thus formed.

3. In a ladle bail bearing or the like, the combination including abail, a holder for a ladle, the said bail having hooked portionscooperating with the said holder, shank means on the holder forengagement by the bail, split journaling means mounted upon the hookedportions of the bail comprising a shank collar and a shank bushing, thesaid shank collar and bushing being assembled in separable relation uponthe hooked portions of the said bail whereby the shank means of the saidholder is journally supported within the said bushing.

4. In a ladle bail bearing and protector of the character described, thecombination including a bail having lower depending hooked portions,ladle holding means with rod-like extensions, means engaging said hookedportions comprising a shank collar and a shank bushing assembled inaligned relation within said hooked portions to form aperturestherebetween, the said shank collar and said shank bushing having angedmeans for engaging a side of the said hooked portions, whereby portionsof the rod-like extensions of the said ladle holding means are containedwithin the assembly of the said shank collar and shank bushing.

5. In a ladle bail bearing or the like, the combination including abail, a holder for a ladle, the said bail having hooked portions forengagement by the holder, shank means on the holder for support of theladle, divided means engaging the hooked portions of the bail andproviding journaling means for the shank means of the holder, the saiddivided means comprising a shank collar and a shank bushing, the saidshank collar and bushing being assembled in superposed relation upon thehooked portions of the said bail.

6. In a ladle bail bearing and protector of the character described, thecombination including a ladle holder, a bail having loweridependinghooked portions for support of the ladle holder, means for journalingthe said ladle holder and engaging the hooked portions of the bailcomprising a shank collar and a shank bushing assembled in superposedrelation within said hooked portions, the said shank collar and shankbushing having means for mounting upon the said hooked portions, thesaid shank collar and shank bushing having hollow portions therewithinforming chamber and distributing means for a lubricant appliedtherebetween.

'7. In a ladle bail bearing and protector of the character described,the combination including a ladle holder, a bail having substantiallysemicircular hooked portions, means interlockably engaging the saidhooked portions of the bail including upper and lower hollow membersassembled in vertical aligned relation to engage journaled portions ofthe said ladle holder.

8. In a ladle bail bearing and protector, the combination including abail having lower depending rounded portions for support of the ladle, aladle holder, means adapted to be supported within the said roundedportions of the bail, the said latter means including upper and lowermembers in superposed relation and providing a bearing therebetween forthe journaled support of the said ladle holder.

9. In a ladle bail bearing and protector, the combination including abail having lower depending rounded portions for support of the ladle, aladle holder with journaling means, means adapted to be supported withinsaid rounded portions of the bail, the said latter means including upperand lower members in superposed relation enclosing aportion of the saidladle holder journaling means, the upper member having an overhangingportion to shield the area adjacent the ladle holder journaling meansagainst accidental deposits of foreign matter and molten metal.

l0. In a ladle bail bearing and protector oi the character described,the combination including a ladle holder, a bail having dependingsupporting means for the ladle holder, means interlockably engaging thesaid depending supporting means of the bail including upper and lowerhollow members in superposed relation, the lower member having a portionof a substantially harder material than the upper member for thejournaled support of the ladle holder.

l1. In a ladle bail bearing and protector of the character described,the combination including a ladle holder, a bail having substantiallyrounded portions for support of the ladle holder, superposed meansmounted upon the said rounded portions of the bail including upper andlower hollow members providing a bearing therebetween for engagement bya journaling portion of the said ladle holder, means cooperating withthe bail for maintaining said upper and lower hollow members insubstantially locked relation upon the rounded portions of the saidbail.

l2. In a ladle bail bearing and protector, the combination including abail having lower depending portions for support of the ladle, a ladleholder with rod extensions, means adapted to be mounted within saiddepending portions of the bail, the said latter means including dividedupper and lower members in aligned relation and having means wherebygrease may be packed therewithin to provide for lubrication of the rodextensions of the said ladle holder projecting within the assembly ofthe said upper and lower members.

ANDREW JADACH.

